Germination and dormancy in seeds of Sapium sebiferum (Chinese tallow tree)

Glasshouse studies were conducted to determine seed germination of Sapium s ebiferum (L.) Roxb. (Chinese tallow tree), an exotic woody invader from Asi a. This species has spread throughout the southeastern U.S. during the past several decades. This tree invades native coastal prairie and abandoned ag ricultural areas to create monospecific stands within about 20-25 years. Th e tree is difficult to control because of high fecundity, root- and stump-s prouting, and few pests or pathogens in the U.S. Scarcity of data on seed d ormancy and germination make it difficult to formulate management plans. We planted seeds collected over a 7-year period and found that maximum germin ation was in January-February and after a storage period of two years; germ ination was reduced to only 3% by the seventh year of storage. There was si gnificant geographical variation in the proportion of germinated seeds and the rate of germination. Seeds from Florida gave the highest (52%) germinat ion success and germination rate while those from South Carolina had the lo west (6%) germination success and rate.